17

Retaliation

Chishiya

Chishiya was frustrated with himself, but he didn't dare show it, didn't dare admit he'd made a mistake. If he hadn't made the decision to part with their only radio, both him and Niragi could have contacted the Beach and asked for extraction. Now, nobody from the Beach knew where they were, or if they were even alive. He'd considered all aspects of this mission, including the odds of something going wrong. They'd been minimal, a highly unlikely possibility. Yet here they were, silently walking beside each other, heading to the nearby hospital to gather medical supplies.

And to treat Niragi's wound. I should check him for a concussion too, Chishiya thought. Is this concern I'm feeling for him? Interesting... I'd completely forgotten what that feels like.

Chishiya knew this street like the back of his hand. Further ahead, looming in the darkness, he knew what cold, desolate memories were awaiting him, ready to pounce, like a predator on the hunt.

Back when he was a child, after his mothers death, he'd spent several years in an orphanage. Yet he hadn't cared about his situation, about the other children or the staff, about life and death itself. He hadn't cared about anything for that matter. He'd been entirely numb to any kind of emotion, nothing but an empty vessel, void of any semblance of humane warmth.

Staring at the ruins of his past now though, seemed to flood his heart with guilt and regret. It was a feeling so unnatural, so alien, that for a heartbeat he felt the grasp on his indifferent guise slip. And of course Niragi had taken notice of his brisk moment of internal disorder.

Yes, this is where I resided, not lived. I haven't lived in what feels like eternity.

The orphanage was a bleak place, its walls echoing with the laughter and cries of children who had no place else to go. Chishiya had learned early on to keep to himself, his sharp mind and quick wit his only defences against the harsh realities of life in the orphanage. Chishiya had always been smaller and quieter than the other boys, which made him an easy target for the bigger, more aggressive ones.

While most children were afraid of him and avoided him like the plague, there was one boy that had made it his personal mission to force some kind of reaction out of Chishiya. For months, Riku had made Chishiya's life miserable, pushing him around, taking his belongings, and mocking him in front of everyone in an attempt to break Chishiya's stone cold demeanour. Chishiya never let it bother him, never reacted. He felt nothing at all, not a single emotion, as if his heart had died along with his mother. It was only when Riku mentioned Chishiya's mother, that he finally snapped and decided he needed to put an end to this.

Chishiya spent days observing Riku, noting his habits and routines with a meticulous eye. He knew Riku had a habit of sneaking out to the old storage shed behind the orphanage to smoke cigarettes he had stolen from the staff. The shed was rarely visited by anyone else, making it the perfect place for Chishiya's plan.

In the dead of night, Chishiya gathered his materials: a length of sturdy rope, some wooden planks, nails and sturdy hessian bags he'd fill with rocks, as a counterweight. As he worked, his mind was a whirl of cold, calculated thoughts. He considered every detail, every possible outcome. His trap had to be flawless. It was not just about revenge; it was about asserting dominance, about sending a clear message that he was not to be trifled with.

He set the rope to tighten around Riku's ankle and hoist him into the air, leaving him hanging upside down, helpless and humiliated. The mechanics of the trap were simple but effective. Chishiya tested it repeatedly, ensuring there was no room for error.

The next evening, Chishiya watched from a hidden vantage point as Riku, unaware of the trap, made his way to the shed. Chishiya's pulse quickened, but his expression remained impassive. This was the moment he had been meticulously planning for.

Riku pushed the door open and stepped inside. The trap was triggered instantly. The rope snapped tight around Riku's ankle and yanked him into the air. He dangled upside down, flailing and shouting in panic, his cigarette falling from his mouth.

Chishiya emerged from his hiding place and walked calmly into the shed. His eyes were cold, devoid of empathy. Riku's eyes widened in shock and fear as Chishiya approached, his calculated steps echoing in the dimly lit space.

"You," Riku spat, trying to twist free. "Let me down, you little—"

"Quiet," Chishiya interrupted, his voice low and commanding, dripping with a quiet menace that sent chills down Riku's spine. "You're in no position to make demands."

Riku fell silent, his face turning red from the blood rushing to his head and the fear building inside him.

"This is how it's going to be," Chishiya continued, his tone calm but icy. "You will leave me alone from now on. If you so much as look at me the wrong way, I will make sure you're left in a much worse situation than this."

Riku's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. He knew Chishiya was serious. The cold precision in Chishiya's gaze left no room for doubt.

"And if you tell anyone about this," Chishiya added, leaning in closer, his face inches from Riku's, "I will deny everything. You have no proof, and everyone knows how much you like to cause trouble. Who do you think they'll believe?"

Riku's defiance wavered, and he nodded slowly. He knew he was beaten.

"But that's not all," Chishiya continued, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "If you ever bother me again, I will make your life a living hell. Next time, it won't just be a rope. It might be something sharper. Or maybe something that burns. You'll never know when or where, but it will come. And if you even think about seeking revenge, remember this: I see everything. I hear everything. You will never have a moment's peace."

Riku's face paled, the realization of Chishiya's threat sinking in. His mind raced, imagining all the horrors Chishiya could inflict upon him.

"Do you understand?" Chishiya asked, his voice cold and emotionless.

"Yes," Riku whispered, his voice trembling.

"Good," Chishiya said, stepping back, his expression unchanged. "Remember this the next time you consider messing with me."

Chishiya reached up, knife in hand and severed the rope, dropping Riku unceremoniously to the floor. Riku scrambled to his feet, glaring at Chishiya, but said nothing. The fear in his eyes was unmistakable. He turned and fled from the shed, leaving Chishiya standing alone in the dim light.

Chishiya watched him go, a small, satisfied smile playing on his lips. He knew he had won. The terror in Riku's eyes had been proof enough.

The memory faded as quickly as it had surfaced and Chishiya soon found himself wrenched back to reality, staring at the crumbling ruins of his dark and empty past.

Chishiya tore his eyes away from the building and regarded Niragi instead, whose now soft, warm eyes rested on him. Niragi's whole aura had shifted. This was the Niragi behind the cruel mask, his true self, laid bare before them, for Chishiya, and only Chishiya, to witness. This was the very same Niragi, he'd become acquainted with, on the roof last night.

A small trickle of blood ran down Niragi's already blood smeared forehead, and like every so often, Niragi wiped it away with the cuff of his sleeve. A reminder, that they had to reach the hospital and tend to that wound, clean it, make sure no glass or other debris remained.

"We should get moving," Chishiya suggested.

"Right," was all Niragi cautiously replied.